Lid-loosener.



A. I. RODNEY.

LID LOOSENER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1915.

Patented June 20, 1916.

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WITNESS:

INVENTOR.

u MW in 5 ATTORNEY THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON, n. c.

AMELIA I. noonnr, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

LID-LOOSENER.

Specification of Letters P tent- Patented June 20, 1916..

, A ppli'cation'fil ed September 30,1915. Serial No. 53,271.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AMELIA I. BooNEY, acitizen of the United States, and residing in the city of Pittsburgh, inthe county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented ordiscovered new and useful Improvements in Lid-Looseners, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists of a new and improved device for loosening thelids of metal boxes and other containers.

My improved loosener is particularly adapted for use in connection withboxes provided with lids having depending edge flanges fitting down overthe outside wall of the box. 7

My loosener is separate from both box and lid and, when the lid is putin place, is interposed between the box and the lid. The lid is loosenedby tilting the loosener, resulting in forcing the lid upwardly away fromthe box. I

In applying my invention to boxes containing such substances, asshoe-polish, which are applied by means of a dauber, I provide the innerend of my loosener with a dauber-brush.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of an openblacking box showing the loosener in place for the application of thelid to the box; Fig. 2 is a diametric section of the box and lid,showing the loosener mounted in its place; Fig. 3 is a front elevationshowing the lid loosened from the box by the tilting of the loosener,and Fig. 4 is a perspective of the loosener with the dauber featureomitted.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings, reference beingfirst had to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, wherein A is the box, and

'B is the lid for the same, provided with a depending edge flange 1which fits down over the box A in the usual manner. C is the loosener,stamped into shape from stiff sheet metal. Said loosener is composed ofa laterally winged portion 2 curved to fit the contour of the upper edgeof the box A; a reduced, depending neck portion 3, and an outwardlyextending grip 4. Where the loosener is to be used as a dauber when thebox is open, I provide the loosener with an extension at its inner endupon which is mounted the dauber brush 5.

When the lid is in place, the dauber brush is contained within the box,as shown in the drawings, the winged portion 2 is held between the topedge of the box and the under face of the lid, and the neck 3 extendsdownwardly between the flange. 1 and the outside of the box. Theloosener, being formed of thin metal, does not appreciably interferewith the air-tight character of the box when the lid is in place.

To loosen the lid, the grip 4: is seized by the fingers and swung to oneside or other out of the vertical, thus tilting the winged portion 2.The tilting of said winged portion, as shown in Fig. 3, results in itslower extremity bearing against the top edge of the box while its upperextremity bears against the under surface of the lid, raising thelatter, as shown so that it falls or may be lifted from the box. Owingto the leverage furnished by the neck 3, but little force is required tolift the tightest lid.

When formed as a dauber, a convenient and cleanly method of storing thedauber, when not in use, is provided, and the dauber does not becomedried out and hardened.

My loosener is inexpensive, so as not to appreciably add to the cost ofboxed goods. here the dauber feature is omitted, as in Fig. 4, thedevice is applicable to any character of boxed or canned goods where aflanged lid is used.

What I desire to claim is 1. In combination with a container and a lidfor the same provided with a depending edge flange which fits down overthe upper wall of said container, of a loosener for said lid stampedintegrally of metal and comprising an outwardly extending handle, arelatively narrow neck extending up between said lid flange and the wallof the container; and a laterally winged body portion of the propercontour to fit between the top edge of the container and the under faceof the lid proper whereby, when said handle portion is swung to one sideout of its normal vertical position, one wing of said body portion bearsagainst the top edge of the container while the opposite wing of saidbody portion bears against the under face of the lid, thus wedging saidlid loose from said container, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. In combination with a container and a lid for the same provided witha depending edge flange which fits down over the upper wall of saidcontainer, of a loosener for said lid stamped integrally of metal andportion bears against the top edge of the container While the oppositeWing of said bodyportion bears against the under face ofthe lid, thuswedging said lid loose from .said'container, and a dauber integral Withsaid body portion and extending inwardly therefrom beneath said lid,substantially as and for the purposes described.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Penna, this 29th day of September, 1915.

AMELIA I. ROONEY.

- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

e i Washington, D. 0.

